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Berwick Rangers 0; Ross County 2 |
Derek Adams scored both Ross County goals in a comfortable victory over a stuffy Berwick side. Ross County have now extended their winning sequence to five games.
The first half was goal-less and try as they might County could not break down the home defence. Their goalkeeper was their hero and he brought off three magnificent saves in the opening forty-five minutes.
The first came after 20 minutes when Steve Ferguson hit a tremendous drive. This was followed by a full length save from a shot by Derek Adams and then Frank Escalon tested him with a close range effort.
Early in the second half County got the break through they deserved. The 'keeper had made an excellent stop to parry an Escalon shot but the ball fell at the feet of Derek Adams who blasted the ball home.
County then pressurised the Berwick defence but they had to wait until the 87th minute to seal victory. A cross from Murray Hunter was met at the far post by Derek Adams and he struck the ball perfectly into the net.
Ross County: Walker; Wood, McBain, Herd Maxwell, Gilbert, Adams, Tarrant (Hunter, 77), Escalon and Ross. Unused sub:
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Ross County 3; Berwick Rangers 1 |
This win over Berwick Rangers was not without cost to Ross County.
Injuries to Frank Escalon and Gary Wood, two men who have been in cracking form in recent weeks, took the edge of the three points earned in victory. A re-occurrence of a hamstring injury may keep Escalon out of the game for several weeks whilst Wood's ankle injury might not be so severe as first thought.
The earky exchanges were a little tentative with a lot of huffing and puffing in midfield but little penetration in attack. The first real moment of excitement came in the 35th minute when the visitors' 'keeper O'Connor brought Steve Ferguson down in the box. The "last man" rule meant that O'Connor had to go. His replacement in goal was Beaton who promptly saved Ian Maxwell's weak spot kick.
In the second half County played with a little more direction. Billy Ferries was in excellent form. However, it was Ferguson who opened the scoring when he ran on to a through ball from Alex Taylor to blast the ball home.
The second goal came nine minutes later when Ferries made use of the space afforded to him by ten-man Berwick to put in a perfect cross which Neil Tarrant nodded into the path of Ferguson to score his and his side's second goal.
The third goal was a Ferries and Tarrant double act again but this time the big striker finished off the move with a well-placed header and a thoroughly deserved goal.
In the closing minutes of the game, Berwick did score through Forrester but this can be considered as little other than a consolation effort.
Ross County: Walker; Matheson, McBain, Haro, Maxwell, Gilbert, Ferries (Williamson, 81), Fergoson, Wood (Tarrant, 49), Escalon (Taylor, 14) and Golabek.
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Berwick Rangers 2; Ross County 2 |
Berwick Rangers extended their unbeaten sequence to eight games last night with a draw with league leaders Ross County - though they will have been disappointed not to have taken all three points.
Steve Ferguson opened the scoring in the twentieth minute for County when he headed home from close range. But County's only other "high spot" was a Kenny Gilbert volley which struck the woodwrork. It was Berwick who looked more dangerous and only a brilliant double save by Nicky Walker denied Forrester. Ex-County forward Murray Hunter also tested Walker with a fierce low drive but the County 'keeper was up to this test.
Berwick were finally rewarded on the forty minute mark when Neil hit a fine pass and Watt's powerful header gave Walker no chance.
The home side kept snapping at their opponents in the second half and Watt again put the County defence under pressure before Hunter mis-hit a shot from a few yards out. Rangers took the lead when Watt crossed for Hunter to head home.
County replied ten minutes from the end when Roy McBain made the most of an error by McNicoll. The visitors' goal led a charmed life in the closing minutes as County held out to secure the draw.
Ross County: Walker; McKay, McBain, Haro, Maxwell, Gilbert, Ferries, Ferguson, Tarrant, McGlashan and Golabek. Subs: Escalon, Taylor and Wood.
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Ross County 6; Berwick Rangers 0 |
Ross County: Walker; Tully, McBain, Haro (McKay, 85), Maxwell, Ferguson, Ross, McGlashan, Tarrant, Taylor (Golabek, 75) and Kinnaird (Wood, 88).
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